Peanut Butter Reindeer Cups (3 Ingredients)
These 3-Ingredient Reindeer Cookie Cups are one of the easiest and most festive Christmas treats you can make during the busy holiday season. They’re adorable, kid-friendly, and come together quickly thanks to premade peanut butter cookie dough, which makes them perfect for parties, cookie trays, and last-minute baking.
During December, life starts to feel like a whirlwind — buying presents, wrapping gifts, running to Christmas class parties, and juggling all the festive events. That’s why I love having simple holiday treats like this on standby. The decorating is easy enough that the kids can help, and they always turn out so cute that they look like you spent way more time on them than you actually did. It’s the perfect little recipe to squeeze in between all the holiday chaos.
Why These Reindeer Cookie Cups Are a Must-Make Christmas Recipe
These adorable reindeer treats check every Christmas-baking box and stand out among the internet’s most popular holiday cookie recipes.
- Perfect size for serving : Thanks to the mini muffin tin shape that keeps them bite-sized and irresistibly cute.
- They always turn out cute: Even if you’re not crafty or creative in the kitchen, which makes them ideal for kids and beginner bakers.
- Premade peanut butter cookie dough: Using premade dough, sSaves so much time, eliminating mixing bowls, measuring, or mess.
- A guaranteed kid favorite: your children will love adding the antlers, eyes, and little Rudolph noses.
- Crowd-pleasing flavor: the combination of warm peanut butter cookies + chocolate + crunchy pretzels hits every sweet-salt balance.
- Highly shareable: these photograph beautifully for Pinterest, Instagram, and holiday entertaining boards.
- Customize easily with different candies, doughs, or chocolate centers, giving you tons of fun variations.
- Foolproof and quick, making them a great go-to recipe when you need something festive without spending hours in the kitchen.
Ingredients & Supplies
These simple ingredients come together to create the cutest holiday cookie cups with minimal effort and maximum festive charm.
- 1 package premade peanut butter cookie dough
- 24 Mini Reese’s Cups, unwrapped
- 24 small pretzels
- 24 candy eyes
- 24 cinnamon candies or red M&Ms for Rudolph noses
- Silicone Mini-Muffin Baking Dish
Using packaged dough makes the entire recipe fast and foolproof, but the decorations bring all the holiday magic.
Leanna’s Pro Tip: For the cutest reindeer faces, chill the Mini Reese’s Cups in the fridge before pressing them into the warm cookie cups. They’ll hold their shape better, melt more slowly, and give you that clean, picture-perfect look that makes holiday treats feel extra special with almost no effort.
How to Make Reindeer Cookie Cups
This easy process creates perfectly shaped cookie cups with adorable reindeer faces every single time. Baking them in a mini muffin pan ensures the dough forms a well for the Reese’s cup, and decorating while warm helps the candy stick naturally.
1. Preheat the oven based on your cookie dough packaging directions.
2. Roll the dough into 24 evenly sized balls and place into a greased mini muffin tin.
3. Bake until lightly golden and puffed. The centers will naturally sink slightly as they cool.
4. While warm, press a Mini Reese’s Cup into the center of each cookie to create the base of the reindeer face.
5. Add two pretzels at the top for antlers.
6. Press on candy eyes while the cookie cups are still warm.
7. Finish with a red cinnamon candy or M&M to create the signature Rudolph nose.
8. Allow the cookie cups to cool completely so the chocolate sets and the decorations stay in place.
Here’s a Quick Video Tutorial!
Expert Tips to Make These Reindeer Cookie Cups Even Better
- Double or triple the batch. These are always the first cookies gone at holiday parties.
- Use a mini muffin tin for the best shape. Regular muffin pans create oversized cookie cups that won’t hold the Reese’s tightly.
- Chill your Reese’s cups first. Cold candy helps prevent melting when pressed into warm cookie dough.
- Bake the cookie dough until the edges are golden. Underbaking will make the cups collapse; overbaking dries them out.
- Add decorations while warm — but not hot. Warm cookies help the eyes and pretzels stick, but too-hot dough may melt the chocolate.
- Spray the muffin tin generously. Peanut butter dough tends to cling, and a little nonstick spray makes removal easy.
- Let the chocolate set before moving. This helps keep the antlers and eyes from shifting or breaking.
Easy Variations and Creative Add-Ons
- Adding this section helps differentiate your post from competitors.
- Different noses: Use pastel candies or mix colors to create a full reindeer “crew.”
- Swap the dough: Sugar cookie, chocolate chip, or gingerbread dough also work beautifully.
- Switch the candy: Mini Hershey’s Kisses or Rolos make fun reindeer faces too.
- Holiday sprinkle rim: Add festive sprinkles around the cookie cup for extra color.
- White chocolate Reese’s: These taste amazing and give the reindeer a cute snowy look.
Storage & Make-Ahead Tips
These Reindeer Cookie Cups store beautifully, making them perfect for holiday prep, party trays, and make-ahead Christmas baking.
- Traveling Tip: Layer in a shallow, wide container so the pretzel antlers don’t break when transporting to holiday parties or classrooms
- Room Temperature: Store in an airtight container for 4–5 days. They stay soft and chewy thanks to the peanut butter dough.
- Make Ahead: Bake the cookie cups a day in advance, then decorate the next day so the pretzels stay crisp and the eyes don’t smudge.
- Freezer Friendly: Freeze the undecorated cookie cups for up to 1 month. Add Reese’s cups, antlers, eyes, and noses after thawing for the freshest results.
- Keep Pretzels Crunchy: If your kitchen is humid, add the pretzels right before serving to keep that salty crunch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make these reindeer cookie cups without peanut butter?
Yes! If someone in your family has a peanut allergy or simply prefers a different flavor, you can easily swap out the peanut butter cookie dough for sugar cookie dough, chocolate chip dough, or even gingerbread dough. The decorating process stays exactly the same—you’ll still get an adorable reindeer face with a chocolate center, pretzel antlers, and a festive red nose. Just make sure whichever dough you use is firm enough to hold its shape in a mini muffin tin.
Do I have to use a mini muffin pan, or can I bake these on a sheet pan?
A mini muffin tin is strongly recommended because it creates the deep “cup” shape needed to hold the Reese’s cup securely in the center. A flat baking sheet won’t give you the same results. If you only have a regular muffin tin, you can use it, but the cookies will be much larger and require more decorations per treat.
How do I keep the pretzel antlers from sliding off?
The best trick is to add the pretzels right after pressing the Reese’s cup into the warm cookie dough. The warmth helps them stick naturally. If your kitchen is very warm or the pretzels seem loose, add a tiny dab of melted chocolate as edible glue. Letting the cookie cups cool completely before moving them also helps keep the antlers intact.
What can I use instead of Mini Reese’s cups?
If you want a peanut-free option or simply prefer another flavor, you can use mini Rolos, Hershey’s Kisses, Dove chocolates, mini peanut-free cups, chocolate truffles, or even a small scoop of chocolate frosting. Anything that fits snugly inside the cookie cup will work and still look adorable when decorated.
Can kids help make these?
Yes—kids love making these Reindeer Cookie Cups! This is a great beginner-friendly recipe because there’s no mixing or measuring involved. Let younger kids add the eyes and noses, while older kids can help with shaping the dough and pressing the chocolate into the warm cookie cups. It’s a fun and festive holiday baking activity you can make together every year.
You’ll Also Love these Easy Christmas Treats
- Easy Mint Christmas Crack Dessert: A sweet-and-salty Christmas favorite with a refreshing mint twist that everyone devours.
- 5-Minute Christmas Tree Cookie Dippers: A fast and adorable holiday dessert that’s perfect for dipping into warm chocolate or serving at parties.
- Festive Rudolph Dessert Board: A fun and eye-catching treat board filled with chocolate, candy, and holiday cheer.
- 3-Ingredient Santa Cheesecake Cups: A creamy, bite-sized Santa treat that’s perfect for kids, parties, and Christmas dessert trays.
3 Ingredient Reindeer Cookie Cups
Ingredients
- 1 package premade peanut butter cookie dough
- 24 Mini Reese’s Cups unwrapped
- 24 small pretzels
- 24 candy eyes
- 24 cinnamon candies or red M&Ms
Instructions
- Preheat your oven according to the temperature listed on the cookie dough package.
- Roll the dough into 24 small balls and place each one into a greased mini muffin tin.
- Bake until the edges are golden and the centers are just set.
- While warm, press a Mini Reese’s Cup into the center of each cookie cup.
- Add two pretzels at the top to create cute reindeer antlers.
- Press on the candy eyes while the cookie cups are still warm.
- Finish by adding a red cinnamon candy or M&M for the Rudolph nose.
- Allow the cookie cups to cool completely before removing from the pan so the chocolate can set.
Notes
Make Ahead: You can bake the cookie cups the day before and decorate them the next morning so the pretzels stay perfectly crunchy. Freezer Tip: Freeze the undecorated cookie cups for up to a month. Thaw, then decorate to keep the reindeer faces crisp and cute. Allergy-Friendly Swap: If you need a peanut-free version, use sugar cookie dough and swap the Reese’s for Rolos, Hershey’s Kisses, or another peanut-free chocolate.
